TINTYPE PHOTO KIA BATTLE CHATTANOOGA 79TH INDIANA INF CIVIL WAR ARMED SOLDIER

This young Civil War Soldier 1/6th plate tintype is identified as Great Uncle Newton Ornbaun. We tried to research him, at first with no luck.

His real name is Henry Newton Ornbaun, not Henry Osborn. When I read the letter from an officer documenting his wounds and bravery, the officer had spelled it wrong. Also when I looked at the draft papers, the name Osborn is intermingled with Ornbaun and Ornbaum. Henry Newton Ornbaun was with the 79th Indiana Infantry. He was injured in November 1863 during the Chattanooga Campaign, and died from his wounds on Dec 1st, 1863.

We are adding an excerpt from the letter from headquarters, documenting his injury. Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 27, 1863. I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Seventy-ninth Regt. Indiana Volunteers and Eighty-sixth Regt. Indiana Volunteers, consolidated, and placed under my command by order of Gen. Beatty, in the battle before Chattanooga: On the 23d instant, at noon, orders were received to march, and leaving our camps we formed at supporting distance, in double column, in rear of the left of Brig. The advance being made, we followed in the above order for about a mile, halted, deployed the column, and were ordered to form on the left of Gen. Not a shot was fired by my command during all this time.

At night orders were received to fortify our position with rifle-pits and abatis. During the night we succeeded in accomplishing and carrying out the order as directed, and had at the break of day a line of field-works of much strength. Nothing occurred Tuesday, the 24th, or Wednesday, the 25th, until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, at which time I was ordered by Gen. Beatty to advance with my command beyond our works and form on the left of the front line of Gen.

Willich, to advance and take the rifle-pits of the rebels in our front. The rebels upon our approach abandoned their rifle-pits, which were occupied by our forces. Not having received any order to remain in the rebel works, I ordered my command to advance upon the mountain side in our front. Crossing the open space beyond the works we met a terrible fire, enfilading my command in all directions.

The fire of the rebels becoming very severe, and their infantry in front, who were retreating before us, halting occasionally and firing upon us, I perceived that the safety of my command required it to get the protection of the mountain side to be enabled to take shelter among the trees and rocks. I urged a rapid advance, and with the hearty co-operation of the officers of both regiments the whole line was carried forward in the best order possible, on almost inaccessible ground. Here, protected by the steepness of the mountain, the men were enabled to make good their foothold, and reply to the rebel musketry, which was very galling and almost surrounding us.

We advanced steadily step by step. When near the top my attention was called by Capt. Howe to the fact that our advance upon the mountain isolated us from the rest of the line with which we advanced upon the enemy's rifle-pits; there was no support on the right or left, and on looking back perceived our forces occupying the rebel works below; to retrace our steps would have been inevitable destruction to the entire command. The resolve to advance and hold every inch of ground until supported was our only safety. The line advanced firmly, taking advantage of every obstacle, under a most furious fire of artillery and small-arms, the enemy rolling lighted shells among my men and throwing rocks upon our heads: but the ground was held and contested with the utmost determination. The rebels did not succeed in forcing us back one step. We remained in our position, our flags and the enemy's almost touching, keeping up a heavy fire, until support came on the right and left, advancing up the mountain. At last orders were given to fix bayonets, and to charge them; once the effort failed, but advancing again, succeeded, and gained the enemy's works, which were covered with dead and wounded, and full of rebels, who made haste to fling away their guns and to get to our rear. As my men swarmed upon the crest the rebels made another stand, commanded, as ascertained, by the rebel Gen. Hardee, but their resistance was very feeble; they were quickly broken, and fled in the greatest confusion.

Here a battle-flag was captured; I regret to say it was torn to shreds by the men in their eagerness to secure mementoes. After pursuing the rebels, and the capture of many pieces of artillery and numerous prisoners, the command bivouacked upon the crest of Missionary Ridge. It is with much pleasure that I can report the loss of both regiments as surprisingly little, when taken into consideration with the magnitude of the effort, and its results.

A list of casualties is hereto appended. I beg leave to call the attention of the general to the following officers whose conduct deserves special mention: Capt. S Hanna, Jordan, and Howe, Adjutant Ritter, Lieut. S Mounts and Burns, of the Seventy-ninth Indiana Volunteers; Capt.

S Sims, Gregory, and Carnahan, Lieut. S McInerny and Laymon, of the Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteers.

They with all other officers did their whole duty. Among the enlisted men, where all displayed such daring, it is hard to make a distinction. Johnston, Company D; Color Sergt. Thompson, of Company B; First Sergt. Osborn, of K; and John W. Hartpence, a drummer, of Company C, who went into the ranks and fought well--the last three of whom are seriously wounded--as well as all non-commissioned officers, have acted with intrepidity and great bravery, assisting their officers in every manner. I cannot close this without making my acknowledgments and thanking Col. Dick, of the Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteers, for the valuable assistance rendered me in commanding the two regiments while consolidated during the battle and from the time we left our camps. I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRED. Condition: The tintype is Excellent, and has some kind of patent stamped into the back. The case shows wear and is split at the spine. We just added another photograph that goes with this tintype.

It's an ambrotype of Newton Ornbaun when he was a young teen. We are very happy that we could identify this patriot and give him the legacy he deserves. The item "TINTYPE PHOTO KIA BATTLE CHATTANOOGA 79TH INDIANA INF CIVIL WAR ARMED SOLDIER" is in sale since Saturday, October 10, 2015. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\Civil War (1861-65)\Original Period Items\Photographs". The seller is "earlyimage" and is located in Saint Petersburg, Florida.

This item can be shipped worldwide.

Country/Region of Manufacture: United States